I have heard a lot of good things about Nomad, a cellar door and Mediterranean restaurant tucked away in a quiet street in the foothills of Surry Hills, so we decided to hit it up before heading over to Capitol Theatre to watch a show.
The warehouse style restaurant is very cavernous and has an effortlessly modern industrial charm thanks to the exposed piping and brick walls. We watched the chefs at work in the open kitchen which is at the centre of the restaurant and soon enough we’re dining on their incredible Smoked Pork Empanada, which have a deceptively simple and crumbly exterior but are oozing with flavour inside. Paired with the harissa hot sauce (which has a kick, but isn’t that hot), it’s a winning way to start the meal.
Smoked Pork Empanada, $15
Our other starter was their incredible Scallops with cauliflower puree, lardo and anchovies. Apart from the pretty presentation, these plump little babies were a hit flavourwise too – the scallops were so juicy and fresh, melding with the unexpectedly addictive flavours from the cauliflower puree.
Scallops, $15
For the mains, we had opted for Wood Roasted Pork with charred cabbage and a cute little sweet potato and cheddar gratin served in a small pan on the side. The pork was quite an indulgent choice, with a very crunchy crackling on top of a layer of fat and meat. I’m glad we had decided to share this dish as while the flavours were nice, it was really quite a richly flavoured dish.
Wood Roasted Pork, $37
We balanced out the meatiness with Nomad’s BBQ Carrots, which are unlike any vegies I’ve ever had before. The carrots themselves were very fresh and sweet with some smokiness from the BBQ, and the flavours were enhanced by the almond dukkah sprinkled on top and the dollop of creamy labne on the side.
BBQ Carrots, $18
Nomad does things a bit differently from the norm and they live to their claim of serving up Mediterranean food which showcases the best local produce from Australian farmers. It’s pricey for dinner, but we had a peek at their more affordable lunch menu and spotted some tasty sounding dishes like their lobster roll which we’ll like to come back to try!
Nomad
16 Foster Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Ph: (02) 9280 3395
my favourite here i still the scallop tatare!
Bit pricey for me now I think (trying so hard to save money!), so the lunch menu right up my alley! Hope the lunch dishes are as good as the dinner ones look.